Verbatim response from Claude
Annual Blood Tests for a Comprehensive Health Picture
Here are the key panels to consider, along with where to get them:
Core Tests to Request
Metabolic & Organ Function
- Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) - kidney, liver, electrolytes, blood sugar
- CBC (Complete Blood Count) - detects anemia, infection, immune issues
Heart Health
- Lipid Panel - cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
- hsCRP - inflammation marker linked to heart risk
- Homocysteine - cardiovascular risk factor often overlooked
Hormones & Energy
- Thyroid (TSH, Free T3, Free T4)
- Vitamin D (25-OH)
- B12 and Folate
- Iron/Ferritin
Blood Sugar
- HbA1c - 3-month average blood sugar, catches pre-diabetes early
Hormones (age/sex dependent)
- Testosterone, estrogen, cortisol
Where to Get These
- Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp - through your doctor or directly
- Everlywell - convenient at-home testing kits
- Function Health - comprehensive annual panel, highly recommended for thoroughness
- Inside Tracker - good for personalized analysis
Talk to your doctor first - they can order most of these and insurance may cover them.